FEATURE: Fashion Forward

License! Global looks at the trends that will shape the licensed apparel business in 2014.

Apparel and accessories are one of the strongest categories of licensed product. Apparel licensors generated $50.7 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise

Just walking the floors of this month's MAGIC Market Week one can see the wide variety and breadth of licensed apparel brands exhibiting such as Vince Camuto, Kate Spade New York, Chinese Laundry, Splendid, French Connection and Seven for All Mankind.

These and a multitude of other apparel licensors and licensees are among the trendsetters and tastemakers for the entirety of the fashion industry, and License! Global has a look at just some of the movements in licensed apparel that will shape the business in 2014.

Heritage Brands

The term "heritage" speaks to a lengthy history of quality product and deep roots. In a world where fast fashion dominates, consumers are hungry for authentic connections with a timeless brand that speaks to their own personal history. The category lends itself to the core desires of consumers and shoppers: value, multi-category offerings and, perhaps most importantly to the world of licensed fashion, authenticity. …